Pavit Tangkamolprasert is chasing his first Asian Tour title in five years, and he wants to win it for his wife. This week marks the 20th anniversary of his relationship with Thai LPGA professional Chorphaka Jaengjit, who is watching from the gallery.

The 37-year-old backed the emotion with a bogey-free six-under 66, seizing a share of the Yeangder TPC lead at 14-under alongside countryman Poom Saksansin. The pair lead after two rounds at Linkou International Golf & Country Club.

Tangkamolprasert Extends Hot Streak

It is the first of two Asian Tour stops being played back-to-back in Chinese Taipei. Tangkamolprasert made six birdies, including two straight to open his round, and has not dropped a shot through 36 holes.

“I think the wind switched today,” he said. “A lot of cross wind for today, it was definitely a different wind from yesterday, and it’s very tricky. If you hit it high, the wind is different from lower down. Yeah, it was very tricky.”

Tangkamolprasert has come agonizingly close all season, finishing runner-up at the Philippine Golf Championship and tying for second at the International Series Japan. His last Asian Tour win came at the 2019 Sabah Masters.

“I didn’t win for maybe like five years already,” he said. “So yeah, let’s see because I came very, very close already in the Philippines, in Japan, and came second a lot of times in Thailand. So yeah, keep knocking the door.”

He has already won twice on the Asian Development Tour in Chinese Taipei, but an Asian Tour title on this soil has eluded him. A maiden win this week would arrive on the most meaningful date of his year.

Saksansin, Thai Pack Chase the Lead

Saksansin, his co-leader, is no stranger to Yeangder TPC success, having won the event in 2023. He returned a 64 built on nine birdies, five of them on the back nine, against a single bogey.

“It’s not been very good,” Saksansin said of his recent form. “Played in local events and finished not so well. But I just opened an academy and I was teaching one of my friends a drill, and that drill got into my swing.”

A repeat win for Saksansin would make him only the second multiple Yeangder TPC champion, joining Thaworn Wiratchant, who won in 2010 and 2013.

Thailand’s depth ran deep beyond the top two. Tawit Polthai fired the round of the week, a bogey-free 62 with 10 birdies, to sit third, just one shot off the lead.

Defending champion Kazuki Higa of Japan matched that 66 with two eagles before three late bogeys slowed him down. Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu (66) and Jazz Janewattananond (67) shared fifth place.

Chinese Taipei’s Chien-yao Hung carded a 69 to sit two shots further back. Malaysia’s Ervin Chang cooled off with a 71 and now trails the leaders by five shots.

Australia’s Travis Smyth and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, the top two players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, each shot 68 to climb within six shots of Tangkamolprasert and Saksansin heading into the weekend.